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And the last part of my report from Open day will be about last acquirement for Slovenian Armed Forces – the infamous Finnish Patria AMV. I’m not getting into the political details, but I can say that a bribery was used by Patria to secure Slovenian contract and as far as I know the investigation is still in the progress. Anyway, in the first place Slovenia ordered 135 APCs, but because of the financial crisis the number was lowered to 55, but this wasn’t officialy confirmed. It will be built in 4 derivatives. The first one is the unarmed transporter, second one is command mobile vehicle, third is armed with Kongsberg Protector M1511 turrets (with M2 .50 cal heavy machine gun) or with 40mm grenade launcher and the fourth one should be with 120mm NEMO mortar.

The name Svarun was chosen by members of 74. MOTB (Motorized Battalion of Slovenian Army) when they got their first 13 Patrias. Svarun is a slovenian word for Svarog, a pagan god from Slavonic mythology, who was a creator of world and the first god of sun.

On the 21st May Slovenian Armed Forces celebrated the 20th anniversary of its existence. Like as every year the head of Slovenian Army decided to open the gates in every major army bases in the country. Althought I’m from Novo mesto I decided to visit the Cerklje ob Krki airbase which is located around 40km away from my hometown. Anyway, as usually I will start the report with the static part of display. Nothing hardcore, just some whole and detail shots of airplanes and helicopters. And one APC.